UCONN FOOTBALL: Johnny McEntee separates himself in QB competition

Chip Malafronte, Register Staff

Published 12:00 am, Sunday, September 25, 2011

STORRS -- The quarterback situation is finally clearing up at UConn.

On the heels of an efficient outing in which he completed 12-of-21 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns and no turnovers in a 17-3 win at Buffalo, junior Johnny McEntee has "clearly separated himself" at the position, UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni said Sunday.

McEntee has seen the majority of snaps this season anyway, but his completion percentage (44 percent before Saturday) and general failure to spark the passing game kept Pasqualoni from making a commitment on a true starter. McEntee, Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich have all been listed atop the weekly depth chart.

While Pasqualoni said Sunday nothing has been set in stone, he hinted that McEntee will continue to get the bulk of duty.

"Johnny had his best game of the year, the best game of his career at Connecticut," Pasqualoni said. "He was able to make key plays in the passing game and avoided the rush to pick up a first down with his feet. He wasn't perfect, but he made good decisions. He's put himself in a good position as we move forward."

Pasqualoni said the Huskies had planned to use the same plan with the quarterbacks as it has the first three games of the season. McEntee would start, and freshman Michael Nebrich would get a series to start the second quarter, and the coaches would decide where to go from there.

But with Buffalo daring UConn to throw the ball by stacking the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Pasqualoni decided to stick with McEntee, his best passer. A pair of short passes and long runs to slot receiver Nick Williams, the second a 49-yard touchdown pass to seal the victory.

"We felt the more experience quarterback of the group would have the best chance for recognition and management of the offense," Pasqualoni said. "There was also the theory of lets stick with some continuity. Johnny produced, and at the end of the night it's based on production."

WREH-WILSON'S KNEE

Junior cornerback and co-captain Blidi Wreh-Wilson injured his knee during an awkward fall to the turf in the first half Saturday, and did not return.

On Sunday, Pasqualoni said he was waiting on the results of an MRI. Wreh-Wilson, an athletic cover corner, is one of the leaders of UConn's talented defense. Gary Wilburn played the second half in Wreh-Wilson's spot.

JUNIOR RETURNS

Starting safety Jerome Junior was suspended for the Buffalo game, and did not make the trip. Specifics of the suspension were not divulged, but Pasqualoni said Junior was allowed in Sunday's team meetings and he will be eligible to play this weekend against Western Michigan.

NEXT TIME, USE THE STAIRS

On their way down to catch the team bus to the stadium, Pasqualoni, UConn director of football operations Tim Pendergast and a couple of others were trapped in an elevator at the team hotel in Buffalo.

It took over an hour before a technician dropped on to the elevator, opened the hatch and slid a ladder down to free the passengers. Pasqualoni arrived about 90 minutes before kickoff.

"That's the first time that's ever happened to me," Pasqualoni said. "I guess it was my turn."